Al-Raqîb: The Vigilant

"...Verily Allah is vigilant over you" (4:1).

The Vigilant is the quality which knows, observes, and watches out for a given object. It watches out for it so closely and constantly that those who manifest this quality are refrained from approaching the forbidden. Such a one is called vigilant. This word may be said to be derived from the Knower (Al-`Alîm) and the Preserver (Al-Hafîzh). Coupled with the consideration that it is close and constant in regard to avoiding that which is forbidden, we are protected from acquiring the forbidden.